Platypus Wine Tours
Historic winery directory
Historic wineries of the sonoma valley
The beautiful and historic Sonoma Valley is the birthplace of California’s wine industry. In this unique tour, an expert local historian will accompany your group as we taste delicious wine at two or three Historic Wineries. We will also tour the Historic Sonoma Plaza, the San Francisco Solano Mission and the Sonoma Barracks. Your local historian guide will provide a comprehensive overview of local history, and tell amazing stories of wine families and viticulture, along with tales of General Vallejo and the Mission era.
Lunch included; tasting/touring fees and gratuitites extra.
Buena Vista Winery
Founded by Count Agosthon Haraszthy in 1857, Buena Vista is the oldest premium winery in California. The original stone winery is now a California Historic Landmark, and home to the Tasting Room and Visitor’s Center. You will hear the amazing story of Count Haraszthy, the first Hungarian to emigrate to the United States. In 1861 the Count journeyed to Europe and returned to California with over 100,000 cuttings of fine European varietals. Buena Vista now uses exclusively Carneros district fruit, and is the largest vineyard owner in this chosen “cool-climate” region; perfect for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah. Extraordinary wine.
Gundlach-Bundschu Winery
2008 marks the Gundlach Bundschu Sesquicentennial – the 150th Anniversary of the oldest family-owned winery in California. The founder: Jacob Gundlach, was a well-known author and poet, whose letters about the Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire are regarded as the finest original accounts of this disaster. You will hear his story, and taste delicious estate grown wine in a glorious winery setting, nestled up against the Mayacamas Mountains.
Sebastiani Vineyards and Winery
The history of Sebastiani Vineyards extends all the way back to 1825, when its Mission Vineyard was founded by Franciscan fathers of the nearby San Francisco Solano Mission. It is the oldest vineyard north of San Francisco. Still family owned and operated today, Sebastiani Winery was founded by Samuele Sebastiani in 1904. We will visit the original stone winery building, taste wonderful wine, and view the largest redwood barrel in the world!
Bartholemew Park Winery
Currently owned by Gundlach-Bundschu, Bartholemew Park was part of Count Haraszthy’s wine empire. We will tour the comprehensive history museum, taste delicious vineyard-specific wine, and enjoy the extensive gardens surrounding the tasting room.
Sonoma Plaza and San Francisco Solano Mission
No history tour would be complete without a stop at the beautiful and historic Sonoma Plaza, and a tour of the 21st Mission. Many original adobe buildings still line the Plaza, the largest in California. Renowned as the “Bear Flag City,” you will hear the true story of the Bear Flag Revolt. We will also tour Sonoma State Historic Park, which includes the San Francisco Solano Mission and Sonoma Barracks.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
More information about our custom tours can be found on our Private Wine Tours FAQ page.
Platypus Tours also offers Hispanic Winery Tours.
Villa Ragazzi Winery
The Rodeno family bottles limited quantities of Napa Valley’s first Sangiovese, a Rosato of Sangiovese and a super-Tuscan style blend. The Sangiovese vineyard was planted in 1985, the first in Napa Valley of this varietal.
Viszlay Vineyards
Viszlay Vineyards adhere to sustainable farming practices and cherish traditional winemaking techniques that yield gentle, refined, and harmonious wines. Crafting small batches, their wines are solely accessible through the winery and their wine club. Their passion infuses every bottle, blending the art and science of winemaking for your enjoyment.
VJB Cellars
In late 2010, they began transforming their ranch-style home into a beautiful Tuscan-style villa, complete with a tasting room, marketplace, deli, outdoor pizza kitchen, and a charming piazza. By mid-2012, VJB Vineyards and Cellars opened its doors, offering a remarkable selection of rare Italian varietals, alongside wood-fired pizzas and Maria’s beloved home-style Italian dishes. Quickly, VJB became a beloved destination in Sonoma Valley.
Wellington cellars
In 2014, the Belmonte family acquired Wellington Vineyards. Henry and Vittorio took charge, rebranding and refining the wine style while scaling down production. This led to the birth of Wellington Cellars later in 2014, focusing on small-batch, handcrafted wines primarily from their 24-acre estate. Situated in the heart of Sonoma Valley, the winery and tasting room are surrounded by vineyards growing a variety of grapes.
Whetstone Wine Cellars
Since its founding in 2002, the vision for Whetstone Wine Cellars has remained the same: to use vineyard-based winemaking to showcase beautiful California fruit in limited-production, single-vineyard wine. Their blend of rich heritage, Southern charm, and warm hospitality amidst wine country luxury can be found in all elements of the Whetstone experience.
White Rock
White Rock Vineyard, a 35-acre vineyard naturally farmed, sits in a cozy valley at the foot of the StagÕs Leap Range, with a distinctive terroir of white volcanic ash. It’s one of Napa Valley’s oldest plantings. The wines from White Rock are known for their balanced, complex, intense flavors and ability to age gracefully.
